Post Doctoral Research Associate: ACL PREVENT Project

Manchester Metropolitan University – Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences

As a great University in a great global city, we offer outstanding career opportunities to great people. Join us as a Post Doctoral Research Associate and experience well-structured development pathways and the support necessary to take your ambitions to the next level. Share your passion to succeed with a world-leader and create a future to be truly proud of.

About the Faculty of Science and Engineering

Our research impacts health and biomedicine, advanced technologies, and sustainability. We have elite specialisms in musculoskeletal science, microbiology, advanced materials, vascular science, conservation biology, big data, and complex systems.

About the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences

We're helping the world solve big challenges – from health and wellbeing to future technologies and sustainability. Our interdisciplinary research activity takes place across subjects, departments and the wider University. Everything we do supports our four faculty research themes: Health, sport and active ageing; Clean energy and environmental sustainability; Advanced materials and manufacturing; and AI, digital and cyber-physical systems. We're making a difference in the world – from supporting the development of new applications and technologies to advising governments, industry and other organisations.

About the ACL PREVENT Project

This position is aligned with an Erasmus + project, which aims to develop a model for raising awareness of ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries and helping to reduce their occurrence in youth football across Europe. This project involves developing and evaluating evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing the incidence of ACL injuries in football for both male and female players. The successful candidate will conduct research exploring areas such as injury prevention, youth football, strength and conditioning, and athletic performance, with a specific focus on female-specific considerations. You will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in the field of exercise physiology and athlete health. This is a fantastic opportunity for a driven researcher to make a meaningful impact on the health and performance of young and female athletes in professional sports.

About the Role & Team

The UK team for this project is based at MMU (Prof Kirsty Elliott-Sale and Prof Warren Gregson) and the English FA. The other teams are based on Belgium, Portugal, Slovenia and Switzerland (UEFA).

Key Responsibilities

The key responsibilities for this role are: Identifying relevant literature, Extracting data from existing studies, Summaries existing knowledge (including quality assessment), Consensus generation. In addition, the successful candidate will be given the opportunity to contribute to other ongoing projects related to female endocrinology and exercise physiology as appropriate.

Key Skills & Experiences

A PhD in Exercise Physiology, Sports Science, or a related field with a genuine interest in female-specific health and performance considerations for athletes. Strong research background in exercise physiology, injury prevention, strength and conditioning, and athletic performance. Ability to undertake quality (quantitative and qualitative) research related to exercise physiology; specifically in relation to girls and women, anterior cruciate ligament injuries, youth football, exercise physiology, injuries, football, and athletic performance. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to publish and present research findings. Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment, perform detailed analysis, and present findings as required. Write up results of research as reports and publications. Experience in youth sport or working with female athletes is highly desirable.

To learn more about role and requirements, please read the Job Description.

Application & Assessment Process

To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter detailing your suitability, on the application portal. Please be aware that only applications including a cover letter may be considered at shortlisting stage. Applicants shortlisted for assessment, will be required to deliver a presentation as part of the panel interview. For informal enquiries, about this vacancy, please contact Prof Kirsty Elliott-Sale on k.elliott-sale@mmu.ac.uk

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from local and international communities, including those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals. We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support. Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups. Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy. If you would like to join our people and share our ambition, we would love to hear from you!